Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Ohio University-Lancaster Campus

Ohio University-Lancaster's Health and Physical Education program shows something many PE/fitness degrees don't: meaningful earnings growth. While the $35,165 starting salary lands above 80% of similar programs nationally, it's the jump to $50,227 by year four—a 43% increase—that distinguishes this program. Among Ohio's 52 schools offering this degree, Lancaster sits comfortably in the middle of the pack for early earnings but offers a trajectory that suggests graduates are successfully moving into higher-paying coaching, administrative, or specialized fitness roles rather than staying stuck in entry-level positions.

The $25,000 debt load is nearly identical to national and state medians, resulting in a manageable 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio at graduation. This ratio only improves as earnings climb. To put this in perspective: while top Ohio programs like Miami and Ohio Dominican start graduates $5,000-6,000 higher, they're often accompanied by significantly more debt. Lancaster's regional campus model appears to deliver solid outcomes without the premium price tag of flagship schools.

The practical takeaway: this program works well for students planning to stay in Ohio's fitness, recreation, or school districts, where year-four earnings approach $50,000—substantially above what most PE graduates earn nationally. Just understand you're trading a lower starting salary for stronger mid-career growth, which makes early-career budgeting crucial.